Buzzy Vibration at certain RPM's..read before buying!

The most important thing for everyone in this thread is to call Toyota and file a complaint. Just did mine today on top of what the service department filed...they have to hear it from as many people as possible!
Thanks guys.

 

Interestingly, enough, I was speaking to a client of mine, who is a Master Mechanic at a local Toyota dealer. He said many of the mechanics don't or won't file anything with Toyota at all, and just wait for a TSB. He said he always does; however, they pay they get for checking these complaints out is slow to come, so many of the other mechanics just don't bother at all with the extra paperwork to file and get a complaint number from corporate. His opinion is that many of the 'dealer' made complaints aren't even processed or noted by corporate and that if you don't complain directly to corporate, you might not get your complaint heard at all......

Interesting....

 

Curious - Did your client say whether or not he's examined or heard of this very issue on the '16s at his dealership?

 

Hey 49Tacoma, I've got the same low speed 35-40 deceleration vibration in my SR5. It seems to happen between the 2-3 transmission downshift and last for only a few seconds. You can feel the slight vibration in the steering wheel and hear what sounds and feels like your driving over freeway rumble strips at low speed. I say this is transmission related seeing it only happens on the 2-3 downshift. This started around 1,000 mi. with mine and still present at 2,400 mi. along with the 1800-2200 rpm drone [exhaust?], frequency tone-vibration "VIRUS" others are having.

 

@gen3 You just described the symptom I'm having to the tee. I think I'm trying to talk myself out of it being a transmission issue but I would agree. I'm not sure if the gas pedal/steering wheel (on acceleration) vibration is related with the deceleration vibe, but would assume so. The feeling of driving over a very fine rumble strip and getting feedback in the steering is how I would describe it.

If you take a look at where the steering column and gas pedal are mounted - they are directly on the firewall at the same location, whereas the brake pedal is mounted higher (and explains why no one has complained about their brake pedals vibrating).

I've had my vibration since day one and the rpm range for me is 1500-2500 rpms. The exhaust tone and vibration are tied to each other in mine. I'm assuming you're feeling this on acceleration too (not just on deceleration)?

 

So, obviously we all need to be complaining directly to Toyota and the number I have found on their website is 800-331-4331. Is there any other contact methods that would get their attention? Ganging up on them on their Facebook page? I feel if we could somehow get all of us together over a short period of time and hammer away at this then it might force them to listen and respond. Is anybody here a good writer that can offer to write a short paragraph articulating our complaint so the rest of us can take that and copy/paste in our own communication to Toyota? Also, who else could we contact that might have some influence? I've contacted the NTSB about the shift delay into drive when it's cold. That was weeks ago. I've heard nothing. If there's no communication back from Toyota on this then I suppose I'll go shopping for a different vehicle.

 

Can we rename this thread "Big vibration problem! Read before buying a 16 Tacoma" and get it stickied so that every person that visits sees it?

 

Same feeling and sound in my truck. When I first noticed it, reminded me of that feeling you get when only your back windows are open on the highway - pulsating. The rumble strip analogy is spot on.

Frank

 

Just doing some quick searching on google with search query "rpm related vibration steering pedal" I found that many other cars or trucks also have this issue, for example http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/157796-vibration-in-floorboard-not-speedtire-related/ GM's seem to also have something similar. I'll try n read to see what other manufactures have done to remedy this issue on other vehicles. Also notice if you read through the GM forum that they mention high frequency buzzing felt through the steering wheel, and how a GM customer service rep actually jumped in and replied on the forum regarding getting the issue looked at.

 

I think Sweers owes a lot of people dinner.

http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2015/01/5-things-overlooked-on-the-2016-toyota-tacoma.html

4. Driveline Vibration Update
We asked Sweers if the problem was resolved in the 2016 model. "Completely gone," Sweers said. "If you can find it, I'll buy you dinner."

 

I think trdguy82 has a great idea. Media attention will help. -- The original creator of this post
Doobiewah is an excellent writer. Maybe he can help.

 

As has been posted many times in this thread, the vibration discussed in this thread is not speed related, therefore not the same drive line vibration mentioned in that article.

 

Here is the full text. This is much different from my issue:

For years the Toyota Tacoma has been plagued by a persistent driveline vibration. This vibration occurs when driving at speeds of 15 to 25 mph and causes the truck to feel like it has a shimmy. Even more maddening than the shimmy is the fact it doesn't equally affect all trucks. A service manager we spoke with a few months ago said you could drive a variety of Tacoma trucks on his lot and each one would have a different degree of shimmy.

Service managers and owners have created all sorts of remedies to the problem, and Toyota has had an ongoing technical service bulletin stretching back to 2005 models. This service bulletin offers a variety of remedies to the problem, including installing a foam pad behind the steering wheel cover.

We asked Sweers if the problem was resolved in the 2016 model. "Completely gone," Sweers said. "If you can find it, I'll buy you dinner."

But what caused the problem in the first place? Sweers said it was a combination of angles and manufacturing tolerances. He said the new truck has a completely new differential with new spring sets and corresponding angles. This basically changed the driveshaft angle, which resolved the problem.

 

I get that. So basically they got rid of one vibration and now there's a whole new one.

 

Exactly and it took them 12 years to eliminate the first issue. This new vibration is much worse.

 

You can dial in the vibration-drone-harmonic tone by getting in the 1800-2200 rpm cruise range [freeway] and by playing with the gas pedal lightly accelerating and letting off the gas you can tune into it.
I think the 35-40 mph deceleration 2-3 downshift "rumble strip" concern is another problem all by itself. I feel it's trans related and has nothing to do with the higher rpm vibration-drone buzz concern. My truck only does it on deceleration not accelerating.

 

I agree with your impression that the deceleration vibe is another issue altogether. I feel that rumble strip vibe while decelerating between 25ish - 15ish mph. At the very beginning, i noticed it very soon after picking up my new truck and only while decelerating. Then, soon after that while trying to narrow down and pinpoint exactly what i was feeling so i could describe it to my service writer, i noticed it very slightly on acceleration as well. I could (and still can) drive in a 24ish mph range and feel it constantly no matter if im accelerating, decelerating or even just coasting.

Mine does it no matter if ECT is enganged or disengauged. It does it in both 2wd and 4wd. It does it when truck is in gear and also if its in N (auto transmission). At first i thought it was the transmission as well. But now i dont know. Another thing i noticed is, it shows up during two different gears,

maybe 2nd and 1st. And while its passing through both of those gears, it will peak (most impact of the vibe) during what feels like the mid point of that gear. So picture two hills, next to each other. Top of hill gives the most shake, bottom of hills gives the least shake. Decelerating through the last two gears (im guessing 2nd and 1st) always makes the vibration bloom for a moment while in the middle of those gears.

In the beginning it just seemed to me like the driveshaft wanted to slow down faster than the transmission wanted to, and created this issue. But im no mechanic so i cant say whats teally going on.

 

For anyone that has this problem, can you feel the vibes while revving in the offending range while in park or neutral?

 

Someone might have tried this already and I missed it. Does anyone get these vibrations stopped in park and gassing it up to 2400 rpm?
if so, that would eliminate drive shaft.

 

No vibes while revving in park or neutral. Revved up past 4000 RPM. Smooth as glass. [Offending range is 1800-2400 in gear].